[Vpaaetal] Graduate Council Minutes

Tue Nov 16 14:16:38 CST 2004

Graduate Council Minutes
November 9, 2004

The Graduate Council met Tuesday, November 9, 2004, in the MSC Boardroom at
3:00 p.m. with Dean Allan D. Headley presiding.  Members present were:  Ms.
Donna Anderson, Dr. Dick Fulkerson, Ms. Karyn Gomez, Dr. Ray Green, Dr. John
Hanners, Dr. Cynthia Harr, Dr. Jeff Kopachena, Dr. Chris Myers, Dr. R. N.
Singh, and Dr. Jon Travis.  Members absent were:  Dr. Wendell Edwards, Dr.
Dale Funderburk, Mr. Michael Miller, Dr. Chester Robinson, Dr. Janet Walker,
Dr. Sandy Weeks, and Dr. Dayle Yeager.  

Dean Headley called the meeting to order. 

Action Items

The minutes from the last Graduate Council, October 12, 2004, were approved.

Report from Committee on Administration

Dr. Ray Green presented the committee report concerning the number of times
a master's student can take the comprehensive examination.  The committee
proposed that the wording in Procedure A11.44 be changed to indicate that
the comprehensive examination can be taken only three times.  Dr. Green made
the motion and Dr. Travis seconded that the recommendation be approved.  The
Council unanimously approved the change. 

Presentation on Graduate Education and Research Trends

Dean Headley gave a presentation on the five year trends of graduate studies
and research at A&M-Commerce.  Information included graduate enrollment,
enrollment by gender, enrollment by fulltime/part-time, degrees awarded,
external research proposals submitted and funded, and research expenditures.
The information will be included in an annual report being prepared by the
Graduate School.

Discussion Items

Dean Headley told the Council that he would like for them to share their
expertise and concerns about various committee charges while they are being
researched.  He invited them to voice their opinions concerning two issues:
the limitations for using credit taken in a non-degree status and awarding
associate graduate faculty status to new faculty.

Dr. Green led a discussion on the current procedure governing how courses
taken in a non-degree status can later be used for a master's degree
program.  Questions & issues discussed were:
a.        Should there be a distinction between a planned course of study
such as certification and a non-planned accumulation of coursework?  
b.        Students in non-degree or certification status are currently not
monitored for academic progress.
c.        Students that are not in a planned course of study may not be
effectively advised.
d.        Students in certification programs are encouraged to continue
their studies in a degree program, but are being penalized by the
twelve-hour rule.

Dr. Green will take comments from the Council to his committee to help in
formulating a proposal.

Dr. Travis led a discussion on whether all new hires with doctorates should
receive automatic associate graduate membership.  Issues discussed were:
a.         Whether there should be a distinction between faculty that have
recently received their doctorate as opposed to those that have been in
similar positions at other institutions.
b.         Should criteria for associate be put in the employment
requirements?
c.         Will a change devalue the associate status?
d.         Should the appointment to associate membership only be at the
recommendation of the department head?

The Committee on Graduate Faculty, Research and Instruction will consider
the comments in determining if changes should be made to A&M-Commerce
Procedure A12.05.

Discussion on the recent Coordinating Board recommendations was postponed
until the next meeting.

Information Items
1.         Dean Headley gave a report on the recent Campus Civility Workshop
and the Federation Fall Seminar. 
2.         Dean Headley gave a report on the recent Pathways Research
Symposium at A&M-Corpus Christi.  A&M-Commerce was well represented with
twenty-six students attending and 21 from a total 350 posters were
displayed.  Mr. Heliodoro Sanchez, Jr. received first place in Graduate
Education.  Mr. Sanchez is a doctoral student in Educational Administration.
Third place in Undergraduate Education went to another A&M-Commerce student,
Ms. Luz Elenia Early, a junior majoring in Spanish.  Third Place in Energy
was awarded to Mr. Steven Zandstra, a senior majoring in Physics.
3.         Dean Headley informed the Council that awards for matching
recruitment funds have been made to the Department of Mass Media,
Communications & Theatre and to the Graduate Programs in Business.
4.         The Graduate Dean has not received any requests from graduate
students for travel to present their research results at meetings.  He
encouraged Council members to remind their departments of the availability
of these funds for their graduate students.
5.         Forty-eight mini-grants were submitted during the recent
competition.  Faculty will receive notice of awards shortly.  Faculty not
receiving an award will receive a detailed evaluation of their proposal by
Dean Headley. 
6.         Four Federal Initiatives were submitted to the A&M System for
consideration.  The proposals were submitted by Dr. Delbert Horton
(Industrial Engineering & Technology), Dr. Ben Jang (Chemistry), Dr. Harry
Fullwood (Psychology & Special Education) and Dr. Linda Morales, Ms.
Maribeth McAnally and Ms. Debra Howard (Computer Science).
7.         Review of applications for Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies &
Research will begin November 15, 2004, with the appointment beginning
January 1, 2005.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 4:05 p.m.

Louise Skinner
Secretary to the Graduate Council

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